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The differences between molecular laboratory technologists and medical technologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a molecular laboratory technologist and a medical technologist. Additionally, a medical technologist has an average salary of $53,249, which is higher than the $51,239 average annual salary of a molecular laboratory technologist.
The top three skills for a molecular laboratory technologist include next-generation sequencing, clinical laboratory and molecular biology. The most important skills for a medical technologist are patients, clinical laboratory, and ASCP.
| Molecular Laboratory Technologist | Medical Technologist | |
| Yearly salary | $51,239 | $53,249 |
| Hourly rate | $24.63 | $25.60 |
| Growth rate | - | - |
| Number of jobs | 86,280 | 116,495 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A molecular laboratory technologist performs a number of duties to analyze samples in a laboratory setting. Their duties in this position are to collect samples for research, test specimens with a variety of equipment, and study how clinical drugs affect the samples. They are also responsible for maintaining data analysis records, troubleshooting issues, and preparing lab equipment. This position requires advanced education training in molecular biology.
A medical technologist's role is to conduct laboratory tests with accuracy and speed. It is their responsibility to gather, prepare, and analyze samples such as blood, tissues, and bodily fluid. The produced results will be crucial to a patient's diagnosis and further treatments. It is also essential for medical technologists to keep a precise record of data and coordinate with fellow team members and physicians to ensure the fast and efficient delivery of results. Furthermore, a medical technologist can choose to work in different establishments such as a hospital, laboratory, or private clinic.
Molecular laboratory technologists and medical technologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Molecular Laboratory Technologist | Medical Technologist | |
| Average salary | $51,239 | $53,249 |
| Salary range | Between $37,000 And $69,000 | Between $41,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Alaska |
| Best paying company | - | Children's Hospital Colorado |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a molecular laboratory technologist and a medical technologist in terms of educational background:
| Molecular Laboratory Technologist | Medical Technologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 63% |
| Most common major | Biology | Medical Technician |
| Most common college | University of Pennsylvania | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
Here are the differences between molecular laboratory technologists' and medical technologists' demographics:
| Molecular Laboratory Technologist | Medical Technologist | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 33.9% Female, 66.1% | Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 5.4% Hispanic or Latino, 16.3% Asian, 14.1% White, 53.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 11.9% White, 53.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 8% |